Andrew McNally House - Altadena, CA

Ink Drawing of the McNally House (pre-addition)

Built in 1890, the Andrew McNally House was the perfect example of Victorian era wealth in Southern California.  Located in Altadena, CA, the McNally House was commissioned by publishing magnate, Andrew McNally. It was designed by Frederick Roehrig in 1887 and built in 1890. 

This house had an impressive 22 rooms and came in at just under 7,000 square feet. In addition to its impressive measurements, the home had some of the most beautiful interiors. One of my favorite details of the interior was its beautifully stained Douglas Fir paneling.  The color of the wood details was perfection. 

Like a lot of the Victorian houses of the area, it was built in the Queen Anne style. The Queen Anne style was usually very detailed and really drew the eye to different parts of the exterior. The McNally House was interesting in that it had a relatively simple exterior compared to other homes of the same caliber. The attention to crafting the interiors was what made this home so special. One of the most impressive rooms is the The Turkish Room, a stunning octagon shaped room built about a decade after the original home was built. Other almost-original rooms were the aviary and servants' quarters. From pictures, it was really a sight to behold. 

Rough sketches of some of the interiors.

Unfortunately, there is no happy ending for this iconic home.  It was lost in the Eaton Fire in 2025. It represents one of my many regrets...not seeing it in person. When we live in architecture rich places, it is easy to take it for granted that that structure will always be there. The loss of the McNally House is proof that you can never take anything for granted.